As little as a decade ago, pairing for a vegetarian menu would have been a snap—simply pick wines that won’t overwhelm the more delicate flavours of veg-forward dishes. But, as these recipes illustrate, when it comes to vegetarian food, we’ve come a long way, baby. That also means your pairings have to dial it up a few notches. Here, there are a few issues in play, starting with rich sauces that call for high acid, and ample umami, which triggers a caution to avoid high tannins. Oh yeah, and let’s be festive to boot. Here are some off-the-usual-beat options to go with these off-the-usual-beat vegetarian recipes.

Black Hills Sparkling Brut 2019 ($55) 

Ten years ago there was no more than a handful of bubbles I’d recommend; today, every new year brings a winner—like this exceptionally classy, well-made offering from the legendary Black Hills. This is the second year of this chardonnay-dominant fizz and it sees extensive bottle aging—the current vintage is 2019—giving it a toasty but focused approach that can dance with any of the dishes here. It can also go toe-to-toe with a champagne that’s twice the price.

Plume Chenin Blanc 2024 $35 

The fall-back white—chardonnay—can run the gamut from on-point when good to seriously flabby when not. Chenin offers much of the same wonderful fruit, but with a consistent shaft of acidity regardless of where it’s made, making it highly versatile for a varied menu like this. Plus, it’s nice to have a “Crafted in B.C.”-branded wine in the mix to toast the resiliency of the industry in this toughest of tough years.

Elena Walch Schiava 2024 $38 

You need to get to know the Northern Italian grape schiava because it creates wines of tremendous drinkability that are a fun alternative to the usual pinot. There are some beautiful bouncy cherry notes, but also wild herbal alpine interludes that make this bottle a savoury, juicy partner to a holiday feast. In 2026, Alto Adige is the region to watch.

READ MORE: A Holiday Dinner Party at Home with Designer Amanda Hamilton

Neal McLennan

Neal McLennan

Neal McLennan is the wine and spirits editor for Vancouver and Western Living magazines, where he susses out the wonderful (and occasionally weird) options for imbibing across Western Canada.